Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Yellow Wagtails and Barn Owls

Lade - mild, misty start, warm later, light airs - 0700hrs - An early walk over the pits on a misty morning yielded a Great White Egret in the reed bed on south lake and the `booming` sound of a Bittern drifting across the Desert from the Tower Pits.Dungeness - 0830hrs - Day two of the bird tour and we started with a seawatch which, unsurprisingly giving the mirror calm sea, produced just a few terns and scoters along with 10 porpoises, which rose in number to over 30 through the day. On the power station fence we had distant views of a singing male Black Redstart, while plenty more Linnets had taken up residence in the scrub across the point.RSPB - The Slavonian Grebe pair showed well on New Diggings, as did a pair of Black-necked Grebes on Burrowes, along with a drake Garganey. Several Med Gulls flew over calling and seemed to be everywhere we went today, mostly passing overhead towards Rye. On Dengemarsh Raven, Marsh Harriers, Wigeon, Bearded Tit, Cetti`s and Sedge Warblers all showed well, plus a singing Lesser Whitethroat, our first of the year, near Scott hide, Wheatear and Whimbrel from the access road and Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall. By noon the temperature reached the upper teens bringing forth myriads of flying insects.

Sedge Warbler and Whimbrel, RSPB

Lade Bay - From the Tavern on an incoming tide we noted Curlews, Oycs, Dunlins and Sanderlings on the sands.Scotney - A superb late afternoon session here with a flock of 25 Yellow Wagtails the highlight, all males, feeding around the suckling herd by the farm house, what fabulous little migrants they are. Also cracking views of 8 Corn Buntings, plus Little Ringed Plover, Avocets, Ringed Plovers, Common Terns, Egyptian Geese, Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Curlew and Stock Dove.

Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtails, Scotney Farm

Walland Marsh - Terrific evening for Jane and Fran out on the Marsh searching for owls. We had fantastic close views of 3 Barn Owls and a Little Owl on Walland and another Barn Owl perched on a roadside post at Boulderwall on the way home. Also noted 2 Stonechats, Wheatear, Green Woodpecker, Marsh Harrier and 2 singing Corn Buntings.